Bus Crash At MIA Kills Two Passengers and Injures Many Others

A tour bus crashed into the departures overpass at Miami International Airport, killing two passengers and injuring many more. According to cnn.com, the bus driver drove into the lower level for arrivals, instead of the upper level for departures, which busses can clear, crashing into the 8 foot, 6 inch overpass.

Two Passengers Dead

Miami-Dade County police officers that were present at the scene at the time of the accident immediately took charge and started helping injured passengers off the bus, while firefighters arrived.

Unfortunately, one bus passenger died at the scene, with 31 other being subsequently transported to local hospitals. A second passenger died at the hospital. The two deceased passengers were identified as 86-years-old Serafin Castillo and 56-years-old Francisco Urana, both from Miami. The bus passengers were part of a Jehova’s Witnesses congregation that had chartered the bus to take them to an assembly about 75 miles North, in West Palm Beach.

Bus Driver Not Familiar With Airport

According to police, despite traffic signs clearly marking vehicle height restrictions in the airport, the bus driver (who is among those injured), drove under the overpass, clearly miscalculating the height of the overpass and whether it could accommodate his bus. Witnesses claim that they told the bus driver that he had made a wrong turn taking the bus into the Airport and further warned him of the low height clearance. Obviously, he did not head the warnings and crashed the bus into the overpass early Saturday morning.

Tour Operators Responsible for Safety of Those They Transport

These bus companies are responsible for the safety of the passengers they transport. However, sometimes they fail to properly train their drivers, leading to deadly accidents like the one in question.

Accidents like this cause deaths. They also cause injuries that may require extensive rehabilitation therapy for the victims and some of these injured passengers may not have medical insurance. When that happens, their best bet lies with a personal injury attorney experienced in handling motor vehicle accident cases to help them make the tour bus operator and/or it’s insurance carrier pay for their recovery.

Given our many years of experience handling this kind of accidents, we cannot help but wonder whether the bus company properly trained this driver. Time and again we have seen how bus and truck drivers are rushed into jobs without adequate training just because their employers need their services right away, without any consideration to the safety of others. Of course, an investigation is still underway, but should this proved to be a case a negligent training by the bus company, the lawyers of Greenberg Stone and Urbano may be able to help.The Lawyers of Greenberg Stone and Urbano Can Help

With more than 100 years of combined professional experience handling truck accident cases, the lawyers of Greenberg Stone and Urbano have seen how bus companies fail to properly train their drivers, leading to deadly mistakes like the one in this case.

If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident involving a bus, you should immediately contact a law firm experienced in handling these cases. Throughout the years, the Miami Dade County Truck Accidents Law Offices of Greenberg Stone and Urbano have represented many clients involved in traffic fatalities, traumatic brain injuries and serious personal injuries. For more details on the commercial vehicle accident cases handled by our firm over the years, please visit the Notable Cases section of our website.

Visit our website to learn more about our firm and contact us today for a free consultation.

Greenberg, Stone & Urbano

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Miami, FL33176

Phone: (888) 499-9700 Local: (305) 595-2400

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Naples, FL34108

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